John geaves



y(momoael.)

J. GRAVES.

WHIFPLETREB. 'No..12.95.2366.v Patented Mar. 25.1884.

MIZ/@m N. PETERS, PnmvLmgmpher. washington D4 C.

NITEE STATES PATENT QEErcE.

JOHN GRAVES, OE GREEN POINT, NEW YORK.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,866, dated March 25, 188%.

Application filed August 4, 1883.- (No model.)

,To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GRAVES, of Green Point, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulrImprovement in Whifdetrees; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, referring to the annexed drawings.

rIhe object of my invention is to obtain a strong, durable, andelastic whiffletree.

In order that anybody may understand my invention, I will describe the same.

The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification.

` Figure l shows a piece of sheet metal from which the whidietree is formed. Fig. 2 shows a side view ofthe whifletree after being formed. Fig. 3 shows a top View of the formed whiffletree. Fig. 4 is an end view of the whifde- Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

In making my whifdetree, I take one or more plates of sheet metal, and form the same ina trough-like form land corrugate the edges, as shown in Fig'. 2. The corrugations extend from the edge inward toward the center line; but a considerable portion of the back is plain orinot corrugated, as shown in Fig. 3. The same time that I bend the corrugated edges up I bend the top of them over to the outside, as shown in Fig. 4.

By means ofthe corrugations and the turnedup sides and turned-out edges I obtain great strength, elasticity, and durability withouta great amount of metal.

When my corrugated whifdetree is fastened to a wagon or horse-car and thesameis heavy loaded, it will take the whole strain, will relieve the horses by its spring and. elastic motion, and will receive the greatest, if not the whole, part of the blows, jars, or sudden strain. When the horses start a loaded vehicle, the whifdetree will form itself more in a half-circle shape, and the corrugation a ct will contract, and as soon as the strain is oft the whifdetree the same will come back to its former shape and the corrugation will somewhat draw out. In the plain part b in the centera hook or ring is fastened; or any other known device may be used to fasten it to the vehicle or horse-car.

Great strength and elasticity are obtained by my corrugated whifdetree without breaking and without overstraining any part of it, the edges being turned up or down,and the edges of the turned-up sides being turned outward, as shown at d, Fig. 4.

What I claim as my invention is A corrugated whifdetree made of one or more sheet-metal plates,with the sides turned up or down and the edges of the turned-up sides bent outward, as and for the purpose set forth.

` Sealed and delivered this 16th day of June, 1883.

JOHN GRAvEs. [1.. s] 

